Window cleaning device



July 20, 1965 M. w. WAYNE 3,195,167

WINDOW CLEANING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22. 1963 2 1. 55 f5 4?@ f2@ f f 64- /fa l f 5 a @zmmm/M ffy/w52 /2 J V50x/mf M265 1 INVENTOR. IVAM/EV W MVA/EUnited States Patent O 3,195,167 WINDUW CLEANING DEVICE Maury W. Wayne,134554 McCormick St., Van Nuys, Calii. Filed Aug. 22, 1963, Ser. No.363,756 Claims. (Cl. 15-322) This invention relates to apparatus forcleaning surfaces such as windows and more particularly to improvementstherein.

A considerable amount of etiort has been directed to making apparatusfor cleaning windows, and more particularly for cleaning car windows.Although a large number of mechanical devices have been tried, none ofthese apparently has been successful as witnessed by the fact that carwindows are still cleaned in the average service station by firstwetting with any suitable cleaning solution and then wiping dry with arag or toweling.

The reason why devices made heretofore have not been successfulespecially in the case of car windshields, is that, the windows are leftstreaked and/ or Wet after their use and thus effectively are notaccomplishing very much in the way of really cleaning a window.

An object of this invention is the provision of a device for cleaningwindows which does not leave a streaked or wet window.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device forrapidly cleaning windows so that they are left clean.

Yet another object of the present invention is the pro vision of anovel, unique and effective window cleaning device.

These and other objects of the invention may be achieved in apparatuswhich includes a window cleaning head having an operative face made of asuitable rubberlike material. The face has spaced parallel scrubbingteeth dening passageways therebetween which extend from either side of acentral opening in said face. On either side of the scrubbing teeth aresqueegee members. The squeegee members also define channels therebetweenwhich however, are open to permit communication with the central hole inthe operating face. A vacuum or low pressure air source communicateswith this central hole. On either side of the operating face arepressure operated valves which communicate through the head to a sourceof water. Whe-n the operating face is brought against a window or othersurface to be cleaned, the pressure Valves are pushed in sufficiently toenable the water to ow onto the window. The motion of the head againstthe window brings into the play the scrubbing teeth which loosens dirtparticles. These dirt particles are flushed by the water being suckedthrough the passageways formed by the teeth into the central hole whichhas the vacuum source applied thereto. A manually operated water cutoffcontrol is also provided in the operating head which is closed when thevwindow has been cleaned of dirt to permit the squeegee to literallysweep any water which remains on the surface Using cleaned toward thecentral opening wherein the Water is drawn in as a result of the vacuumbeing applied thegeto. The end of the operation leaves a window whichnot only is clean but is also dry.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, both as to its organization and method of operation, as well asadditional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood fromthe following description when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a front View of an embodiment of this invention;

FGURE. 2 is a side view and section of the embodilbllbf? Patentedl.italy 20, 1.965

ment of the invention taken along the lines 2 2 of FIG- URE 1;

FGURE 3 is a plan view and section taken along the lines 3 3 of FIGURE lFGURES 4 and 5 show how the front face of the embodiment of theinvention can adapt itself to conform to clean curved surfaces.

Reference will now be made to the drawings and more specifically toFlGURE l which comprises a front view of the invention, FIGURE 2comprises a view in section along the lines 2 2 of FIGURE l, and FIGURE3 which comprises a view in section along the lines 3 3 of FIGURE l.This invention comprises a housing lll, made of any suitable rigidmaterial, having a handle portion lilla adapted for being held in thehand, and a head portion 16B. The head portion eliectively has arectangular shape and is supported at its center from the handleportion. A cleaning member l2 is mounted on the front side of the headmember lilB. lt is made of a material such as rubber or neoprene. rhefront tace of the cleaning member l2. comprises two double squeegeemembers i6, iS, which deiine the upper and lower ends of the front faceoi the cleaning member. ln between the squeegee members are severalscrubbing teeth 2b.

As shown in FGURE l the scrubbing teeth comprise spaced parallel ridgeswhich extend from a center hole almost to the outside ends of thecleaning member l2. Eiiectively these scrubbing teeth define channelswhich lead to a hole 22- positioned in the center of the cleaning memberl2. The two double squeegee members le, lb each comprises an outersqueegee respectively i7, les? which extend the length of the headmember, and an inner squeegee respectively Srila, il'lb, 76 and i961,lh, i90. Each inner squeegee comprises a short center portion,respectively T1715, 15%, with two long portions respectively 17a, lc,and E9n, las, positioned spaced on either side of the short portions.The spacing between the short and long portions of the respective innersqueegee i7, l@ are situated where required in order to provide a pathto the central hole ZZ.

Extending from these double squeegee members lo, i3 are two side flangemembers .'24, 26. These side lange members extend back from thesqueegees over an edge of the head member iiiB, and are clamped thereonby means of plates respectively 28, Si). Plates 2.3, 3i), are attachedto the body of the head member w3 by a plurality or" screws respectively3?., 34.

Positioned at the front face of the cleaning member and on either sideof the scrubbing teeth Ztl, are pressure operated valves respectively3er, 33. These pressure operated valves arc fitted into the ends of there* spective passageways 4i?, 42., which are moulded in the rubber ofthe cleaning member l2. These passageway/s communicate with passageextension members ad, do, also made of rubber, which in turn tit intopassageway/s dit?, Sil, which are formed in the head portion this'. Thepassages 48, Sil, communicate with a vertical passage SL?. whichYextends through the hand holding portion llbA and is coupled in turn toa pipe 54 which is connected to a water source, not shown. A manuallyoperated valve member Se, which is controlled by a knob 5S can be usedto prevent water which is received through the pipe S4, iiowing out ofthe openings in which the pressure valve members 35, 35 are insertedeven though these pressure valves are pushed back to open positions.

The central opening 22 in the front face of the cleaning membercommunicates through a tube 6l) which eX- tends from this opening backinto a receiving opening 62. in the head member 16B. This receivingopening communicates with a vertical opening 64 which extends throughthe handle portion 19A to a pipe 65. This pipe leads to'a vacuum sourcenot sh wn, for applying suction thereto.

The operation of the device is rather unique and achieves results whichhave not been achievedrheretotore, namely that the window on which it isused is left both clean and dry. When the cleaning mernber l2 is broughtagainst a window the pressure operated valves 36, 38, are moved into thepassages ttl, 4.2, thus opening the passages so that water fedtherethrough from the water source through the pipe 54 is directedagainst the window and spreads over the surface thereof. Reciprocalvertical motion over the surface of the window while pressing against itcauses tne scrubbing teeth Ztl to loosen any dirt, or film on thewindow. Since the pressure valves 3d, 38, are maintained open while thisis occurring, water is continually flowing. By reason of the vacuumapplied 'lire-ugh the pipe 66 to the opening 22, the scrubbing teeth 2Q,and the window surface provide flow vchannels or tunnels extending tothe opening 22, and the water carrying the dirt is literally suckedthrough these llow channels into the opening 22. The double squeegeemembers lo, serve to dry the surface of the window and any water whichthe double squeegee members ld, 1S collect in the course of theiroperation is likewise guided or drawn Y into the opening 22;

ln order to completely dry the window the lrnob 58 is depressed, thuscutting oh the supply of Water'to the passages do, 4t2.

The double squeegee members le, l

together with the vacuum being applied to the opening Y' vice can beused with curved window surfaces, it has little Y utility in cleaningthe modern automobile windshield.

This invention by reason of presenting a cleaning surface whichcomprises scrubbing teeth which deiine them a channel leading to acentral source of a vacuum, and further by providing a water flow whichis channeled toward said vacuum, not only thereby providing a mechanismwhereby the most stubborn dirt may be scrubbed from the surface of awindow, but also enable the Vloose dirt to be flushed away. Because ofthe presence of the vacuum substantially all of the Water which isemitted from the passages'dtl, d2, is sucked through the passagewaysinto the vacuum. The cutting oft of further water yby the manipulatingof the knob 58 enables any drops of water which may not have been guidedinto the vacuum to be collected using the double squeegee members le, l@and thereby remove it by the vacuum. ln the event of an automobilewindshield which has been wetted from other sources, such as rain orfog, then the knob 53 can be manipulated initially to enable the windowto be cleaned and dried using the water which is already there.

There has accordingly been described and shown herein a novel, usefuland unique cleaning device which can clean and dry windows, andespecially the windshields ot automobiles.

l claim:

l. A cleaning device comprising handle means for supporting a cleaningmember, said cleaning member having a cleaning face, said cleaning facehaving a rst opening through the center thereof, passage means forcoupling a vacuum source through said handle means to said opening inthe center of said cleaning face, a 'second and third openingrespectively on either side of said central opening and spa edtherefrom, normally closed pressureroperated valve means in each of saidsecond and third openings responsive to pressure of said valve meansagainst a work surface to move to an open posirealer tion, passage meansfor communicating between a source of water and said respective secondand third openings whereby when said pressure operated valves are openedwater flows from said second and third openings, a pluralu ity ofpassageways extending between said second and third openings and saidcentral opening, said plurality of passageways being defined by parallelspaced.V resilient scrubbing teeth, and a lirst and second squeegeemember positioned on either side of saidV central opening and saidsecond and third openings and extending across said cleaning face.

2. A cleaning device comprising a cleaning member made of a resilientmaterial, said cleaning member having a substantially elongated shape,said cleaning member having a cleaningV surface, a first openingcentrally located in said cleaning surface and extending through saidcleaning member, second and third openings disposed on either side ofsaid'centrally located opening and spaced therefrom, said second andthird openings each having therein a normallyclosed pressure operatedvalve means responsive to pressure of said valve means against a worksurface to move to an open position, means for applying suction throughsaid cleaning member to said central opening, passage means for applyingwater through said cleaning member to said second and third openings,aplurality of scrubbing teeth disposed on said cleaning surface, saidscrubbing teeth extending between said central aperture and said secondand thir apertures to define multiple passageways extending between saidapertures, a first and second squeegee spaced on either side of saidVthree Vapertures and extending across said cleaning member, and furthervalve means for closing oi said passage means to said second and thirdapertures.

3. A windshield cleaning device comprising a cleaning member, a supportmember, means attachingsaid Vcleaning member to `said support member,said cleaning member being made of resilient material, and having asubstantially rectangular shape, first, second and Vthird apertures insaid cleaning member, said lirst aperture being centrally disposed inthe operating face of said cleaning member, said second and thirdapertures being disposed near the outside edges of said cleaning memberaligned with anon either side of said first aperture, normally closedpressure valve operated means in each of said second and third openingsresponsive to pressure 'of said valve` means against a work surface tomove to an open position, a plurality of spaced scrubbing teeth formedof said resilient material andextending between said rst and thirdapertures and said lirst and second apertures to thereby define` aplurality of passageways therebetween, a squeegee member positioned onboth sidesof said irst, second and third apertures and extending acrossVsaid cleaning member, passage means extending from said iirst openingthrough said cleaning member and said support member for affordingcommunication between a vacuum source and said tirst opening, and Waterpassage means extending through said cleaning member and said supportmember for enabling the application of water to saidv pressure operatedvalve in said second and third openings. Y'

d. Apparatus for cleaning and drying the surface gl a window comprisinga resilient cleaning head havigg a cleaning surface thereon, saidcleaning surface having a first and second squeegee formed on oppositeedges Mere- Vof, a plurality of spaced resilient scrubbing teeth on saidcleaning face and extending between said rst and sec- Vond squeegeesalong said cleaning face and parallel to openings responsive to pressureon a face thereof against a Work surface to move to an open position,passage means for applying suction to said central opening, furtherpassae means for applying water to said two Side openings, and furthervalve means which is manually operable to open or close said passagemeans for applying water to said two side openings.

5. Apparatus for cleaning the surface of a windshield comprising aresilient cleaning member having a cleaning face, a first and secondopening, said first opening being adjacent one edge of said cleaningface, said second opening being adiacent an edge opposite to said oneedge of said cleaning face, said first and second openings each havingtherein normally closed pressure operated valve means for applying waterto said iirst and second openings through said cleaning head when openedresponsive to pressure on said valve means by a work face, a centralopening extending through said cleaing face and said cleaning head,means for applying suction to said central opening through said cleaninghead, means establishing passageways between said first and secondopenings and said central opening comprising a plurality of resilientscrubbing teeth spaced from one another and eX- teuding between saidcentral opening and said rst and second openings, and a first and seconddouble squeegee member respectively positioned on either side of saidlthree openings and extending across said cleaning face, the innermostof each of said rst and second double, squeegee members beinginterrupted to afford communication of passages in said double squeegeewith said central opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNTED STATES PATENTS 930,628 8/09Squier 15-322 X 1,042,711 10/ 12 Moorhead 15--322 1,600,095 9/ 26Casaclang 15-579 X 1,791,760 2/31 Kline 15-420 1,907,370 5/33 Schoeller15-393 2,064,903 12/36 Ghignatti 15-419 X 2,243,935 6/41 Williamson15--322 X 2,292,435 8/42 Grites 15-321 2,554,238 5/51 Burri 15-4013,107,387 10/63 Katt 15-401 X FOREIGN PATENTS 569,799 2/ 3 3 Germany.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

1. A CLEANING DEVICE COMPRISING HANDLE MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A CLEANING MEMBER, SAID CLEANING MEMBER HAVING A CLEANING FACE, SAID CLEANING FACE HAVING A FIRST OPENING THROUGH THE CENTER THEREOF, PASSAGE MEANS FOR COUPLING A VACUUM SOURCE THROUGH SAID HANDLE MEANS TO SAID OPENING IN THE CENTER OF SAID CLEANING FACE, SECOND AND THIRD OPENING RESPECTIVELY ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID CENTRAL OPENING AND SPACED THEREFROM, NORMALLY CLOSED PRESSURE OPERATED VALVE MEANS IN EACH OF SAID SECOND AND THIRD OPENINGS RESPONSIVE TO PRESSURE OF SAID VALVE MEANS AGAINST A WORK SURFACE TO MOVE TO AN OPEN POSITION, PASSAGE MEANS FOR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN A SOURCE OF WATER AND SAID RESPECTIVE SECOND AND THIRD OPENINGS WHEREBY WHEN SAID PRESSURE OPERATED VALVES ARE OPENED 